BEACON HILL HAPPENINGS

– Will A Kennedy-Markey Primary Divide Environmental Community? Probably Not: It seems like everyone in state politics has lost their mindssince local Politico reporter Stephanie Murrayfirst broke the possibility of a primary challenge of incumbentUS Senator Ed Markeyby rising Democratic starCongressman Joe Kennedy III. If such a challenge does materialize it will no doubt cause rifts and test loyalties among local Democrats. But despite that, some climate activists appear to have circled the wagons around Markey.

Among those coming out for Markey isExecutive Director of the Better Future Project Craig Altemose, a well-known climate activists in the state. In a Sunday tweet, Altemosesaid, “I like @RepJoeKennedy well enough, but @SenMarkey has stood tall and proud for #ClimateAction and the #GreenNewDeal.” Yesterday Altemose went further,saying“If @JoeKennedy challenges @SenMarkey, that would be a hostile act to the #GreenNewDeal.”

He continues, “specifically we need to reduce emissions in transportation and our heating sectors, which collectively account for 69 percent of the state’s carbon emissions.” He goes on to discuss Rep Benson’s carbon pricing proposal (H.2810) which devotes 30% of total revenue (up to $600m a year) to a new Green Infrastructure Fund.

– “Massachusetts bill aims to reduce traffic congestion, but will it help climate?”(Sarah Shemkus, Energy News Network): “An $18 billion transportation bill filed last month in Massachusetts includes some encouraging nods to the importance of reducing car travel and cutting carbon emissions,but local activists say it is too soon to call the proposal a climate win.”

PRICE THAT CARBON

– “It’s raining carbon pricing bills on Capitol Hill: a comparative look”(Noa Dalzell, Climate XChange): “Since the 116th Congress began in January, seven carbon pricing bills have been introduced at the federal level, four of them in the last month. Some of these bills will do a better job at effectively and equitably reducing emissions than others, but all are important in promoting a much-needed dialogue around carbon pricing on Capitol Hill.”Compare all seven bills, and their impacts, here.

BEACON HILL HAPPENINGS
- The Inside Scoop: What's Gonna Pass In 2019: Back from August recess, state lawmakers are refocusing their efforts on multiple legislative priorities including a number of clean energy and climate change proposals. Interestingly, the timeline for some...